It was a beautiful sunny early Spring Day last March 19, 2025.

Due to Sarah’s long relationship with Kleinfeld’s and the Marketing Director, Janette Krushka, they selected this day to capture all the brides in the store and all the action for some social media collaboration.

 Mara Urshal, the owner of Kleinfeld’s and Randy Feneli (from TLC Say Yes to the Dress) were going to be in the store and she thought it would be a great day to come by with her camera.

We are so happy she did!

We are about to share a “real life fairytale” from childhood dreams to bride’s happy reality.

Thousands of brides have said Yes to the Dress but how many of these brides do you get to see in that dress on their actual wedding day!  A wedding dress becomes part of the magic of the day, and we are thrilled to share these stories and photos by Sarah Merians.

Sarah Merians wants to share a few thoughts and feelings as well as our bride, Abigail Williams will share the most amazing words from her heart with all of you.

Sarah –

I was so thrilled to connect with my Kleinfeld’s family and to meet the most amazing bride at the store back in the spring of 2025.

We shared so many coincidences that brought us both together from a brief interaction with the family outside the store, (I did not know it was Abigail) to capturing a real live bride in the store that day saying, “Yes to The Dress” and it was Abigail!

I loved sharing her wedding day and the remarkable wedding gown by designer Nicole + Felicia that she selected. It was absolutely stunning on her and because of this she glowed in it all day.

I have captured many weddings and have never seen a bride so happy and joyful and loving her wedding gown so much!  When I arrived at the church there was a cool mannequin for the dress and the rest is history.  Check out the photos from December 27, 2025.

Ben & Abigail had a perfect day, and I was thrilled to complete our story on this special day.

Abigail-

“My name is Abigail Williams, and I am a recent bride—now wife—originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. My husband, Benjamin Ruiz, hails from Harlingen, Texas. On December 27, 2025, we were married in Manhattan, a city that holds the roots of our love story. We met while earning our master’s degrees in Classical Voice and Opera at the Manhattan School of Music, where music first wove our lives together. From our very first conversation—bonding over our favorite band, Blue October—we sensed something rare and undeniable. We connected instantly through music, our shared values, our hometowns, and, most deeply, our faith. It felt as though we were always meant to meet.

Long before I imagined my future husband, I imagined my wedding day.

I have been immersed in arts music, dance, and performance—since the age of four. These passions carried me across the United States and around the world, especially during my years as a competitive Irish dancer. My family and I spent countless hours on the road, traveling from competition to competition. One of our guilty pleasures during those long trips—especially for my mom, my younger sister, and I—was watching TLC, particularly Say Yes to the Dress. Even then, the magic of weddings and brides captured my heart.

Throughout my childhood, I planned no fewer than ten weddings in my imagination, each with a different theme, location, and dress. This dream was especially meaningful because my mother instilled in my sister and I the tradition of the “five white dresses”—five moments where a woman wears white: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, high school graduation, and her Wedding Nuptials. Rooted in our Catholic and High School traditions, this made the wedding dress feel not only beautiful, but symbolic—an outward sign of a lifelong commitment.

In the spring of 2025, while my mom and sister were visiting New York City during their spring break, I had a sudden feeling to check Kleinfeld Bridal’s appointment availability. We didn’t know when they would be back in the city, so I searched on a whim. To my astonishment, there was exactly one appointment available—two days away, and the day before they were set to return to Oklahoma. It would be my first wedding dress appointment, and, as fate would have it, my last.

As we approached the iconic storefront, we paused to take a selfie when a woman rushed toward us, excitedly asking us to please step aside so she could photograph the storefront. We chuckled and moved out of the way, wondering who she was. Inside, we were immediately enveloped by rows of exquisite gowns. Standing there, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude—like I was stepping into a dream I had held since childhood.

When it was time to begin, I knew exactly which dress I wanted to try on first: a stunning Nicole + Felicia ball gown. My style had evolved over the years—from mermaid silhouettes to A-lines—but this gown had stayed with me ever since my mom sent it to me online a year earlier. The moment I stepped into it, I knew. Walking out to face my mom and sister, standing atop the pedestal, I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. This was my dress. My family felt it too.

After completing the look with a breathtaking veil, the woman from outside the store approached me again. She introduced herself as Sarah Merians, a photographer working with Kleinfeld. She asked if she could photograph me, and I gladly agreed. Over the next twenty minutes, we talked effortlessly. I shared Benjamin and my story, my vision for an intimate wedding rooted in faith, and how surreal it felt to finally be “saying yes to the dress.” After our conversation—and a business card from Sarah—my mom, sister, and I toasted with champagne.

I felt feminine, elegant, and timeless. The little girl who once watched Say Yes to the Dress could hardly believe where she was standing.

That feeling stayed with me long after I left Kleinfeld.

Trusting my instincts, I reached out to Sarah about photographing our wedding. Though I considered other options, I felt drawn to her in the same way I had been drawn to my dress—certain and calm. From her prompt response to our collaboration throughout the planning process, I knew I had made the right choice. Sarah was a dream to work with, and her presence on our wedding day was nothing short of perfect.

On December 27, 2025, everything came full circle. My Kleinfeld experience set the tone for a wedding journey filled with intention, beauty, and grace. Wearing my Nicole + Felicia ball gown, I felt like a princess as we moved through New York City—from our parish, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, to the Manhattan School of Music, and to the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. Each location reflected a piece of our story, woven together by love, faith, and music.”

Warmly,

Abigail

We are thrilled that Kleinfeld’s brought Sarah and Abigail together for this wonderful experience 😊 and so happy to share their stories.

Photography:      Sarah Merians Photography & Video Company www.sarahmerians.com

Photographer:     Sarah Merians

Wedding gown:   Kleinfeld’s Bridal, Designer: Nicole +  Felicia Couture

View Spring Summer 2026 Collection

Locations:             Parish of Corpus Christi and Notre Dame, Manhattan

                                Manhattan School of Music

Florist:                   Poppy Flowers Company

Watch Say Yes to The Dress on TLC 

Learn more about Kleinfeld Bridal